West Virginia offers a diverse array of outdoor recreation opportunities that make it a top destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. From world-class whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers to scenic hiking and rock climbing in the iconic New River Gorge National Park, the Mountain State delivers thrilling experiences year-round. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, camping, mountain biking, and winter sports in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. With its lush forests, winding rivers, and rich heritage, West Virginia offers a perfect setting for families, solo travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking to explore breathtaking natural landscapes. Be sure to visit our guide for information about indoor and outdoor recreation in West Virginia.
Hunters in West Virginia harvested 3,160 black bears during the combined 2017 archery and firearms seasons, which is the second highest recorded bear kill in state history. Due to more abundant mast production in 2017, the Division of Natural Resources expected a decrease in the archery harvest and an increase in the December firearms harvest … Read more
Preliminary counts indicate hunters harvested 108,160 white-tailed deer in West Virginia during the 2017 hunting seasons. The 2017 harvest was four percent below the 2016 harvest of 112,384 deer and 15 percent below the five-year average of 127,803, according to a report published today by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. A breakdown of the … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is requesting original color wildlife paintings for the 2019 edition of the award-winning West Virginia Wildlife Calendar. The deadline for submitting artwork is Feb. 19, 2018. Paintings may depict popular game and fish species, or feature the state’s other wildlife, such as snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, bats, songbirds, … Read more
Rafters and kayakers have been provided another 5.3 miles of whitewater to run in southern West Virginia where an agreement has been reached to partly restore flow to a stretch of the New River downstream of its world-renowned whitewater section. Proponents of the effort to open one of the most spectacular reaches of the New … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will start its 2018 trout stocking season January 2, though two stocking locales will be added to the schedule and one will be removed, according to Paul Johansen, chief of the division’s wildlife resources section. The 2018 stocking schedule contains several changes, Johansen said. The Greenbrier River in Pocahontas … Read more
For the second consecutive year, Canaan Valley Resort ski area this week swept Liftopia’s “Best in Snow” awards in the Southeast region of the U.S., which includes resorts in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. The resort was named No. 1 in the Beginner Friendly, Most Challenging, Family Friendly, Snow Consistency and Quality, Least … Read more
Staff at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, are taking advantage of the coldest December weather pattern in years, which resort officials are haling as the “most terrain” they have had by the middle of December in well over a decade. The consistently cold weather has allowed the resort to keep its state-of-the-art … Read more
It’s beginning to look a lot like ski season in north central West Virginia at Canaan Valley Resort ski area. Encouraged by the wintry weather, the resort has fired up its fleet of snow-making equipment with the goal of covering the popular multi-lane tubing park in advance of Thanksgiving weekend, building a deep base in time for … Read more
West Virginia’s traditional buck firearms season will start Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, and run through Dec. 2. Hunters should see plenty of deer this year due to the season opening close to the “rut,” or, mating season. November firearms deer season traditionally opens the Monday before Thanksgiving, so the season can start as early as Nov. 19 and as late as Nov. … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is conducting a study of state residents’ opinions on and attitudes toward black bears and black bear management. According to Colin Carpenter, black bear project leader for the division, residents may receive a phone call from Responsive Management, a research firm contracted to conduct the study, asking them … Read more
